Anyone starting Chemo in Feb?
Comments
-
Thanks for the update, Alyson. Wishing you both smooth sailing from now on... enjoy the holidays, and say Hi to your DS for me (Guernsey was my pen pal's home, and I would visit every easter spring break when I was in high school, flying over the Channel on a tiny plane from Cherbourg). I have fond memories of the island...
It is 8 below right now (Farenheit!!!)...
Sending warm hugs to all in spite of the Siberian Express which is over us now for a few more days...
Take care,
Catherine
0 -
Great news Alyson. So glad the surgery went well.
I know you will enjoy the holidays with all your family close by.
Tomorrow is our 20th Wedding Anniversary. We will probably celebrate with a quiet dinner.
Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season. Remember to get plenty of rest.
Love to all, Sammie Kay
0 -
Today has been a bit rough. Things have not stabilised as quickly as they should but they did get DH into a chair tonight for a few minutes.
Sammie Kay have a great Anniversary,
i am really tired so am going to bed.
0 -
Happy 20th Anniversary, Sammie!!!
Did you have snow?
Here it is another arctic day... temps below zero... aie, aie, aie... brrr... not great for walks... it's going to be the treadmill today... which I do not use much, sitting hours at a time to finish my knitting-for-babies projects....
Have all a gentle day, and wishing your DH to recuperate some more today, Alyson.
C.
0 -
Hope you are warm. Heard a news item about storms so have just had a look on the computer. Some storm!!
Leah where are you? Haven't even seen your computer on for skype lately. How is the job hunt going?
Stay warm. The cloud is burning off here and supposed to be reasonable again today. Have to be in at the hospital by 11 this morning for an education session.
Alyson
0 -
Good morning all,
I know you think I disappeared, but it was just me getting flown to Santa Barbara, CA for a job interview! It was a great company and great people. I spent two days scouring the area for apts and getting the lay of the land. Santa Barbara is beautiful, a resort town, which might not be the very best place to live. But the weather was delightful.
I have to make my decisions this weekend. If I didn't have a condo to sell in this market, I would be severly tempted. They move me and my possessions, but don't offer any help with selling. But as the wind is whipping by my window right now at 32 mph, and the wind chill is 9 degrees, i might rethink everything. I am blessed to have these choices, though.
Going back to CA (Napa) for Christmas with Tom and Lauren, as that is kind of her graduation present. She starts her new job Jan. 11 and is very excited! Though she has H1N1 right now. She said her hair and eyeballs hurt~! But she is on the mend. She works now in a place with 5 employees, and all 5 called in sick this week. Guess we know where she got it!
Terry, a new normal is what it is. I hope your BIL can tolerate the treatments. I recently found out that the prostate treatments are the same, and I was kind of surprised. Hope he does ok.
Pat, glad to hear you sounding so well. A lot of women in my metastatic group do well on Xeloda, and they love taking it at home! So I hop that works for you for a very long time.
SammieKay, Happy Anniversary! And back to work, woman! Hope you are having a new holiday sweater to show off the girls???
Alyson, So relieved the hubby is done. Now on the road to recovery!
Catherine, that sweater was to die for. Now make one for yourself to match those eyes!
Melanie and I were in Dallas one year ago visiting Twilah. I am so happy you are all still here with me!
Carynn, Marsha, Hillary... love you.
Talk to you when I am through deciding whether to stay in this wretched climate or go be poor in Santa Barbara!
Love.
0 -
Hi there, wrote a long post last night then lost it some how.
Leah what is your decision on the job?
DH is not yet home. Yesterday he was transfered back to the public hospital as he had an episode during the night and they need to monitor him closely. The private hospitals are very good and often have the very latest equipment however when his heart rhythm got very irregular the nursing staff had to contact the consultant who was out - unlike the City hospital where there are all the House surgeons and Registrars who can deal with these things immediately. His consultant works in the public system as well. Anyway they are busy trying to sort things out. Hopefully he will be home at the weekend.
I hope everyone is further ahead with their Christmas preparations than I am. I must send a parcel off to my brother today, I haven't even done my Christmas cards, nevermind people will get them after Christmas but at least the tree is up and I will get my son to put up more lights for me today.
Have a great day
Alyson
0 -
Good monring all,,,,
Bitter cold, with wind chill -2 degrees F. Brrrr.
Well, last of the interviews finished yesterday. There was always one more person to see. So yesterday, I got a written offer from one company and a verbal, to be followed today by a written, offer from the other. If you don't have a letter in writing, you don't really have an offer. Too many people have been burned by this, so I don't consider that I have it until I get the letter(s). In contracting, it was the actual contract and purchase order, but as an employee, it is an offer letter.
I would have been happy with either position. And it was kind of hard to choose. But I picked the one that was less stressful and where the people know and love me. It will be a short commute (about 40 miles RT), and I can work from home when the weather is frightful. The work is also different than what I have done in the past, and that had some appeal. So I start the 4th unless something unexpected happens!
For the first time ever in my life, we are having a real Christmas tree that we are going to cut down ourselves on Sunday. Not sure why it is happening this year, as we are leaving Xmas day for a week's vacation, but so be it. I have always wanted a real tree. I played the cancer card two years ago to try and have one, but that didn't work. But I think my daughter just ground DH down. (she is truly competent at this- this is how she got a horse when she was 11!) But however it happened, we are doing it and I am very excited!
I wish now I had played more this past summer and worried less. I also wish I had filed for unemployment. But I never thought it would take what it did. Once I gave up my "freedom" as a contractor and decided to be an employee, it all happened within a month, really. Lots of lessons to process, I think, for me.
The company's health insurance was a long investigation. The company I am joining has a cadillac plan, and I feel comfortable giving up my plan for it. And it will only cost me $100/mo!
So looks like I will be working as of Jan 4th! What a great holiday gift!
0 -
Back for a second...
Alyson, I hope all is going well with the hubby. How hard it is to not worry.. I hope he is ok as we speak.
Nothing much happening on the Chrismas planning. Will get into full gear this weekend. Cards will get sent whenever. We are hosting Tom's family for Xmas Eve (unexpectedly) and I will have to get all that ready this weekend. Oh well, will be fine.
Keep smiling!
0 -
Great news, Leah... I am so glad to read your message! And you probably made a wise decision: stay where your medical team is and close to your friends and family... you will always find a way to all go to California beaches on a vacation... renting a beach house, or something... Plus sometimes companies "move" you, and 6 months later they delocalize and your left in the cold... even in California...
Sounds ideal as a job description, including the possibility of staying home when weather is too bad...
Our arctic cold is gone and we were in the 50's all week... we may not have that much snow for Xmas, after all...
No tree, yet... I am not sure I want one: it seems I just took it down!!! and DH is upstairs preparing his exams... the dogs could not care less, and I feel a bit lazy, preferring to do other things with my time... it may still change...
DH presents his design assignment tomorrow as part of his qualifying exams... then he prepares for the 6th (entire day of written, no books, exams)... then... we'll be more social again, for a while, before he teaches again by mid-Jan and starts a new trimester at DU.
Melanie, the house where we all sat by the park (pictures by the outdoors fire-place, remember?) has been sold... at last! People will not move in before the summer, though... (see... the inquisitive -- nosy? -- mind wanted to know...
Well, waving to all... wishing you a good week-end... I go check the salmon-spinach quiche...Catherine
0 -
Congratulations Leah. Sounds like a great job,
Catherine, I concur on the tree. DH did place our tree in the living room. It is prelit, but someone(I wonder who) needs to add ornaments, And here I sit still in my jammies at 3 PM.
I worked the past 3 days and am really feeling like indulging myself. A friend at work who is 67, is still working full time in management and she was making fun of me for not wanting to work more than 2 or 3 days. She said she was tired too and working 5 days a week. But that is her choice. My choice is 2 or 3 days a week. My partner that I job share with is out for 4 to 6 weeks and that increases my work load. Now did I justify sitting here in my jammies. LOL
By the way, Catherine, hmmmm, salmon/spinach quiche sounds great. Do you share recipes. I would love to have that one.
Alyson, hope your dh is feeling stronger by now.
I am late with cards as well. Will try to send today.
Merry Christmas and love to all,
Sammie Kay
0 -
Hi everyone! I missed you all so much! We have been crazy busy here, and based on what I'm reading from you, you are too!
On top of trying to get ready for Christmas (which is going to be over this year before I'm ready), Wednesday was a departmental Christmas party, Thursday was a poker night (we have a monthly home game with friends) and Friday was dinner out with friends. We tried to get errands done today, and have been gone all day, and still didn't get it all done. Sigh. Tomorrow I need to hit the grocery store and get some baking done. Monday is my bro's birthday, and I snuck one in as well.
Alyson - How is your hubby doing? How scary that he had another episode. Sending you good wishes and prayers that he's home now and recovering. (((Alyson)))
Catherine - I meant to tell you how beautiful the sweater you made is! I just love it! You look like a million bucks girl! What did you decide on the tree? I did get ours up early this year. With all the company we had for DH's Mom's birthday, I wanted it to look festive for her.
SammieKay - Happy Anniversary! And hey, as far as I'm concerned, we should all take a pajama day once in a while! It's good for he soul.
Leah - The job stuff sure kept you busy for a bit! I agree, I think Santa Barbara is beautiful, but I don't think I could live there either. Congrats on the new gig. I'm so happy for you, they are very lucky to get you.
If I missed anyone, it wasnt intentional. Sending you all a big holiday hug. I probably wont get back until after Christmas, so I want to wish you all a joyous holiday and a healthy, Happy New Year.
xoxo
0 -
Hello, all!
Well, counting down till I am no longer an unemployed person combing the sites and networks for open opportunities. So happy to be done with all that! And never again!
I did find out some interesting things from an insurance broker which may explain a few things. In MA, so many things are legislated that are above and beyond the common rules. That is why I never seem to have push back from anything on the insurance side. He said they don't even bother to refuse, cuz the insurance companies always lose. That puts a lot into perspective- including the premiums. But I don't care- it is too hard to fight things when you are in the thick of it!
Hope all are well, happy and relatively done with the Xmas crush!
LOVE.
0 -
Just wanted to check in and wish everyone a very happy HEALTHY and joyous holiday season!
Melanie, I had to laugh when I read about you stopping at Lamberts, home of the throwed rolls.
That was one of my dad's favorite stops every year on his way to our family reunion in Missouri. What were you spying on up there? Leah, congrats on the new job and hope you enjoy it (and your real tree!) immensely. Where are you going to stay in Napa? I just booked a four day trip there for January 8th and we will be staying at La Belle Epoque, a marvelous B and B we discovered on our last visit.
Catherine, as usual your photos and recipes are awesome. Hope you are keeping warm.
Allyson, hope your hubby is doing well and that you enjoy every bit of Christmas with Bea. How lovely to have a child around of that age to remember the magic of the day.
Caryn, try to slow down so you can enjoy the holiday.
Sammie Kay, a pajama day to work is the best kind! Did lots of them during chemo and I find I do my best thinking in silky long johns.
To everyone, sending blessings and love and remembering our sister angels that are watching over us.
0 -
Hi, sisters... along with my best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season, here is a cool website to choose your next vacation spot or simply enjoy the landscapes... I can see the area where we used to live in Britanny very well... Alyson, there is a special album for the Channel islands... to watch with your son... Hope your DH is back home and things are looking up...
http://www.francecoastline.com/
Have to get back to work (I knew it! always getting work when people are leaving for their Xmas vacation...).
Sending snowy hugs and kisses to ALL... Catherine
0 -
Hi to my dear friends
It is a hot humid day here for Christmas Eve. I am about to get going on the last few messages I have to do before taking DH out to work to see everyone. He is doing well, there is still a problem with his leg which makes it diffuicult to walk too far.
Catherine you would be most impressed with my lettuces and I will have my first tomato ripe for tomorrow. Also have spring onions ready to use.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.
Alyson
0 -
Merry Christmas everybody!
0 -
Merry Christmas, Carynn... wishing you and DH a restful holiday and some "still" time... You sound so busy all the time...
Quite a white Xmas here. We were supposed to get only a dusting, and we ended up shoveling 8 -10 inches yesterday morning... very nice light fluffy snow... magical!
Planning to go walk in the snow with a friend at night to see the Xmas lights/decorations... ours have bee minimal this year...
Hugs to all,
Catherine
0 -
Merry Christmas everyone.
Catherine, thanks for the link. Very beautiful. I shared it with my DD's MIL who is from France as well. I am sure she will enjoy. I am not sure where she lived, but know it is on a coastline.Alyson, so glad to hear your husband is out and about. Hope his leg heals well.
We are back home safe and sound, thank the Lord. Loved being with all the family, but so glad to be back in our quiet nest with our "kitties".
Love and hugs to all, Sammie Kay
0 -
Hello, All!
Writing from cool and cloudy Napa Valley, CA....having an OK time. Highlights so far have been the great trip out nonstop on Virgin America. They do it right.
I was at the Union Sq. stores at 7 a.m. the day after Xmas. Didn't buy anything, but I love the frenzy and the people. Same way I feel on black Friday....
We are up in Napa now, and it is pretty crowded. We are traveling with the DD, who is not very flexible and definitely not used to compromise on anything.
Today is my 3 years, and I am enjoying this very much. This was my original prognosis, and I can tell you that I am nowhere near ready to call it quits. I am so lucky, and blessed!
Ready to charge back to work next Monday. Looking forward to a new chapter.
Much love to all my fellow chemo cruisers. I love you all so much.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
0 -
Hi all,
I have been awol....so sorry! I hope you all had wonderful times with your families and a beautiful Christmas.
DS #2 had his 18th birthday on the 20th. So we took him out to eat. Dinner at my mom's Christmas eve, with my family (5 sisters and brother, nieces and nephews and in-laws), Cooked dinner here on Christmas day! A white Christmas, complete with towing our DD out of the driveway, so she could get to work! Then dinner at my sister's on Saturday, dinner at DH's brother on Sunday, Yesterday was DD#2's 20th birthday, so we all went to dinner at the restaurant where she works. She took care of our table and earned a big tip! We had her fellow servers come and sing to her!
Of course, I worked all last week, which made my spare time limited, between baking and wrapping and cleaning and...you know the routine!
DS#1 proposed on Christmas day to his girlfriend of 6 years. We were all in tears. So there will be wedding planning in our future. We all love Susan and are looking forward to it.
Alyson, I hope your DH is recouperating well. Hot and Humid? HMMM....it is cold and snowy here....our driveway is an icesheet. I fondly call it the "glacier"
Leah....big congratulations on your new position. A wonderful way to begin the new year. And it must be wonderful in Napa! Congrats on your 3 year anniversary. We can only look forward~
Carynn, you sound as busy as we are. We are planning a small event for New Years Eve.
Catherine, you look so lovely in your sweater! Did you do your tree? Like you, there have not been as many lighted decorations here this year. Folks seem to have cut back.
Diann, How was Vegas for Christmas....lots of lights there? I am with you on the pajama day! Sounds nice right about now.
Sammie Kaye, a quiet house is nice too. Ours is quiet tonite. DS 1 is at his cousins to go hunting tomorrow. DS2 and DD2 are both at work. So we are here alone. I made a big pot of turkey corn soup and no one was here to eat it. I just can't get used to cooking for 2!
Well, A very Merry Christmas season....and a Wonderful, Happy and Healthy New Year!
Big hugs to Pat and Marsha....and anyone I may have missed!
Love you all,
0 -
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Sound like everyone is doing great enjoying family time or quiet time. As for me and my daughter, since last year I wasn't feeling very well and sat out the holidays, this year I decided cancer wasn't going to take another opportunity from gathering the family together in my home. Since our mom and dad are already deceased, it's up to the "kids" (5 of us) to make the effort so I cooked a simple feast and had drinks ready and a gift for everyone.
All my 4 brothers and sisters showed up and their children and grandchildren so my little house was packed to the gills with people, laughter and cheer. It was the first time in 13 years that we had been together under the same roof and it was great. The next day I still felt good so I did a little shopping even though it was rainy. Then I paid for it......cold, cough, low grade temp. Oh well...I don't regret it, I had one of the best weeks in a long time!
Happy 2010!
Pat
0 -
Happy New Year everyone. We did wait up and see the New Year in and last night we had Bea stay over for the first time. She was great, giving me a big smile and hug when I went in this morning. She asked for Mummum and Daddad but happily had breakfast and played around until we took her home.DD has only just weaned her so it meant they didn't have to come and take her home.
Pat so pleased to hear you had a wonderful Christmas but do look after yourself now.
Good to hear from you Terry, you have been really busy it seems.
DH is progressing now but still gets very tired. Went out to friends for lunch today so that was a change of scene for him.
Once it gets cooler this evening I must get some more lettuces planted.
Big hugs
Alyson
0 -
Happy New Year Everyone!
My dear little nephew (age 3) was taken to Children's Hospital last evening with a mastoid infection from his ears...Hate those ear infections. So he had surgery just after midnite to remove the mastoid. He is now doing okay, but what a scare for my brother and his wife. Had to go by ambulance in the snow.
Well....going to go eat some sauerkraut!
0 -
Afternoon! We are home, and I am pooped! So much for using vacation to rest and recharge.
We left Monday after Christmas for what was supposed to be a few days in CA. DH and I have both developed a real interest in Presidential Libraries. Seriously, they are sooo interesting. We left here at about 7:30 in the morning to go first to Chino, CA to visit a Military (plane) museum that he wanted to see. We'd been before and heard that they had put in a lot of work / improvements. We arrived around 12:30, and saw what we wanted to see in about an hour and a half. With the time change, we had plenty of time to go over to Yorba Linda, and the Nixon (yes, Nixon) library the same day. It took about 3-4 hours to go thru (I highly recommend it), so now it's only about 4:30, so we decided to drive home! Got home around midnight, slept late the next day, ran errands, and headed to the mountains to spend New Years with the family. Got home about 11:30 this morning.
So, with what's mentioned above, and all the holiday and birthday parties we attended, the last 11 days have flown by. I cant believe it's back to work for me on Monday. While I'll probably get more rest back in my routine, I'm ready for a vacation from my vacation.
Time to think about what to make for dinner (I'm thinking 'Reservations'), and take the Christmas stuff down; then assume the position and watch some College football.
Happy New Year one and all!
xoxo
0 -
Well, back to normal again... good! Not a big Holiday fan...
Thinking of you Leah... may need to walk to work in snow-shoes... for the first day!!! Stay warm and safe!!!
Melanie, thinking of your business... hope the weather is not grounding everybody!
Sammie Kaye, I'll write up the recipes, I promise, but it is more a "montage" than real cooking ;-)
Hope the pace will pick-up, workwise... but if it does not I have great books to read... May have to do some creative marketing this year... never had to so far, there is a first for everything,,,
Thinking about you all... Carynn, get some rest at work!!
Till next time, take care sisters...
Catherine
0 -
Happy New Year everyone!
I took...well sneaked...a few minutes to catch up on everyone. It is so wonderful to read everyone's news. I love that Pat got her family together for a celebration...how nice to bring everyone together.
We had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. I splurged a bit more on them than usual and it was a lot of fun...for me and them! Two days before NYE, Edwin wants to leave for somewhere warm. We went to Miami Beach for a long weekend at the Canyon Ranch Resort...omg...their spa is unbelievable! We took another couple and had a relaxing weekend. Then home to this ridiculous freezing weather....brrrrr....
Terry; I had mastoid surgery when I was 13. They took the eardrum plus 2 middle ear bones. I have almost no hearing in that ear, but I do pretty well anyway I hope he recovers quickly. How truly scary to have such a little one go throgh that surgery.
I can't write much now as I have a stack of "to do's" that have been patiently waiting for me.
Much love to you all!
0 -
Leah!!!! Where are you???? Can you work from home yet? This is definitely the week for that!!
Hope everything is ok and you are safe and warm...
Marsha, hope you won't freeze either... watch those pipes...
Hugs to all,
Catherine (under some snow and expecting a ver cold night, but not for long)
0 -
Hello, all!
It is only in the 20's and 30's here, but no new snow, so normal winter. Chapped lips, etc.
Work is wonderful in the sense that I feel NORMAL now and it is very fast paced, so the time flies by! It is a little frustrating in that the computer I am using is too slow to do what I need to do to connect to the customer's Oracle systems, but other than that frustration, all is going as expected. The biggest change for me is being someone's employee...but they seem rather flexible. I worked 3- 11 hour days, so that will have to change, but I chalk that up to the learning curve. I might be breaking some records with 29 accounts and 29 new passwords..
I can wear jeans, too!
Love you all. will catch up this weekend.
0 -
Thanks for the news, Leah! Sounds great and so NORMAL indeed... enjoy and take care.
I could see the lovely little Bea yesterday, skyping with Alison...
Terry, are you on line or is it somebody else, I see your system connected more often...
Well, this was just a quick hello to everybody... Enjoy your week-end!
0
